Benitez names top three city gov’t execs

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Mayor-elect Alfredo “Albee” Benitez has named the top three executives of his incoming administration here.

Atty. Bong Dilag, spokesman of Benitez, confirmed to Daily Guardian on Tuesday that the latter has named Atty. Romeo Carlos Ting as City Legal Officer, Atty. Pacifico Maghari as City Administrator and Atty. Karol Joseph Chiu as secretary to the mayor.

Dilag said Benitez will name other appointees soon.

Earlier, Benitez said one of the first executive orders that he will issue is for all city government personnel to return to their mother units.

“This will exempt those at the City Health Office and in other offices whose services may be hampered,” he added.

As to job order casuals, Benitez also said all job order (JO) personnel will be deemed terminated by June 30 and appointments will be made based on their need.

Until now the current administration has not given him a list on how many JOs the city has.

“It is still mysterious, he does not know why they are hiding it,” Benitez said.

Benitez said he was told that P356 million has been allocated for JOs in the mayor’s office alone.

He also cited receiving initial reports that 55 percent of the city’s budget has already been spent by the current administration, but he is still waiting for a final report.

Benitez also told the media in a recent thanksgiving dinner that he has established an interim office for his transition team next to the Provincial Economic Development Investment Center near the Capitol.

He said people can go there for requests and assistance.

Benitez also said it is where he has been meeting with city government department heads.

“So far they are very cooperative,” the former lawmaker said.

He hinted that one or two department heads may be transferred.

“We are trying to organize ourselves so by July 1 we hit the ground running,” according to Benitez, who will assume as Bacolod mayor on June 30.